Terminal connector or coupling for electric conduits.



W. S. BROWN.

TERMINAL CONNECTOR 0B. COUPLING FOE ELECTRIC CONDUITS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1910.

1,005,506a Patented 01:11

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6 V J 1 I f Witmeooeoi W I p1? a gnvewlfb-z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

,WILLIAM S. BROWN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TERMINAL CONNECTOR OR COUPLING FOR ELECTRIC CONDUITS.

. provement in Terminal Connectors or Couplings for Electric Conduits,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to terminal connectors or couplings for use withelectric conduits and conductors, which may be either flexible metallic,or flexible non-metallic, or sheathed, or armored or of other type, the.terminal connector being designed to join such conduit or conductor toany suitable outlet, junction, panel, or service box. It is evident thatthis class of goods must be primarily cheap to manufacture. But beyondthis the requirements of the service are exacting and must be fully metand satisfied. Briefly enumerated the service requirements are asfollows: Capability of rigid connection with any ordinary outlet orjunction box having thick or thin, curved or plane walls. Capability ofrigid connection with any ordinary conduit or conductor,

either unarmored or sheathed with a rigid or,

flexible metallic covering. Quick and easy attachability'anddetachability in the fore going connections. A connection which does notinjure either conductor or box in its gripping action. A connectionwhich is particularly strong a ainst strains and forces longitudinally othe conductor. A connection which provides a shoulder for the sheath orarmor covering when the latter has been stripped back in the usualmanner to bare a ortion of the insulated conductor where 1t enters theoutlet box. A connection which presents only rounded .portions tocontact with the insulation of the conductor where the latter enters theoutlet box.

It is among the main purposes of my invent-ion to satisfy these severalobjects or requirements and to do so in an especially cheap efficientand practicable manner.

-W1th these objects in view my invention consists in the features ofconstruction and combination as hereinafter .set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a perspective view of a cable connectorembodying the principles of my invention Fig. 2, is a vertical sectionalview of the same, and Fig. 3,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 16, 1910. Serial No. 561,642.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

is an end view looking from the top in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 denotes a hollow rigid metallic bodypreferably made of cast iron or other metal. 2 denotes a clamp offlexible metal, preferably sheet iron or steel in the form of a strapnot quite completely encircling a central circular area the size ofthesheathed conductor to be grasped. This strap has terminal ears 3 at itsends, perforated to receive a bolt 4 by which they are drawn togetherand the strap bound or clamped upon the conductor. These features asthus above broadly described have been employed in various forms inprior devices of this class. The present invention lies moreparticularly in the features and aspects hereinafter described.

I make the hollow rigid metallic body 1 wlth a flange or circumferentialrib 5 having a flat interior face 7 and a rounding outside contour 8.

9 designates the usual nut on the usual.

threaded portion of tlfbody 1. On one side of the body 1, and extendingtherefrom in a-directlon parallel to the longitudinal axis,-

I provide an integral prong or horn 10.

This horn has an interior surface concentric with the bore of the body 1but with a slightly greater radius of curvature, thereby providing for ashoulder 11 at the entrance to the bore of the body 1. The horn 10 has athickness as small as is consistent with strength, and this thicknessmay be comparatively slight as its curved form. gives it considerablerigidity. The transverse section of the horn will be crescent shaped.Its angular extent should be as small as is consistent with strength,and should in all cases be much less than half a circumference to givegood results. To this horn the strap 2 is riveted or otherwise fixed atthe middle of its back, or in other words, centrally between its twoextremities. It is not essential that the strap should pass aroundtheoutside of the horn in its attachment, but this is my practicalconstruction. The strap is formed to have its interior surface follow.the outline of the bore as closely as possible, or more accuratelystated, follow a cylindric'al outline slightly larger than butconcentric with the bore of the body 1 in order to provide for theannular shoulder 11. The exposed portion of the strap 2 may be punchedinward at 13 to form an internal protuberance, or may be otherwiseroughened or corrugated to provide a firm grip on the conductor orconduit to be grasped.

I regard it as an important feature of the construction that the straphas a straight lower edge which bends into and remains in a flator planeform in normal use thereby fitting against the flat interior face 7previously described. When the bolt or fastening device 4; has beentightened the conductor is or may be made to be almost wholly inclosed.The endof the sheath or armor of the conductor abuts against theshoulder 11, and the insulated portion projects through the bore of thebody 1 and into the outlet or junction box past the rounded corners 14.

What I claim is,

A terminal connector for electric conduits comprising a hollow rigidmetallic body of cast formation having a flanged or circumferential rib5 and a fiat interior face 7, said body having projecting from said flatface an integral horn of crescent shaped transverse section, theinterior surface of said horn being concentric with the bore of saidbody but with a larger radius of curvature, and a strap 2 secured to themiddle of the back of the horn centrally between its two extremities,and having one edge fitting against said fiat face 7 on each side,whereby said strap is free to be expanded through a considerable rangeof enlargement.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in'the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 13th dayof May 1910.

WVM. S. BROWN. Witnesses:

G. M. AYVAD, GRAcn DI GAUGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

